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Commissioner Brown - Police Department - Appropriation of Funds ($200,000) from the Federal (Treasury/Justice) Drug Asset Forfeiture and Equitable Sharing Program for the Purpose of Purchasing a Mobile Command Unit
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STAFF CONTACT
S. M. Zill - Gaston County Police Department - 704-866-3321
BUDGET IMPACT
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Appropriate Fund Balance. Increase Revenue and Expense by $200,000.
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BUDGET ORDINANCE IMPACT
Appropriate Asset Forfeiture (Treasury/Justice) Fund Balance by $200,000 and Appropriate $200,000 to the Asset Forfeiture-Treasury account.
BACKGROUND
The Comprehensive Control Act of 1984 and the Anti-Drug Act of 1986 provide for distribution among participating law enforcement agencies of assets forfeited in connection with drug related arrest and the above laws prohibit the use of such funds to reduce local fund budgeted for law enforcement programs.
The Gaston County Police Department has received funds from the Federal Drug Asset Forfeiture and Equitable Sharing Program. Appropriation of funds from the Asset Forfeiture Fund Balance into the Asset Forfeiture-Treasury account for the purpose of purchasing a Mobile Command Unit. The funding will be used in partnership with Gaston Emergency Management. Funding will replace the current, aging mobile command unit with a new vehicle that has updated technology and a design flexible enough to accommodate a wide variety of public safety events for police, fire, and medics.
The current Mobile Command Unit is a 2001 Freightliner model. During fiscal year 2022, the department spent approximately $20,000 in maintenance and was "out of service" due to maintenance for approximately six months. This unit lacks basic technology and is ill-equipped for medium to large scale events.
The vehicle will be used at public events to provide a public safety presence and in emergency situations such as hostage, missing persons, barricaded subjects, and large fire events providing the capability for extended time o...
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